Volkswagen Provides e-Golf To Stanford University For Research

Volkswagen recently provided an all-electric 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf to Stanford University for research “dedicated to advancing e-mobility and improving the driver experience in electric vehicles“.

Initially, the car will be used by the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory (VAIL), located on the Stanford campus. The German manufacturer believes that researchers, after evaluating the vehicle, will be inspired to come up with new research themes.

VAIL is a project generously supported by Volkswagen:

“In 2009, the VWGoA invested $5.75 million in the creation of the VAIL with Stanford, and then further expanded the research partnership in 2013 with an additional $1.7 million donation. Since 2009, VAIL has conducted numerous breakthrough research projects in several areas including autonomous transportation, vehicle dynamics, safety, and environmental performance.

In addition to funding, VWGoA continues to provide resources, vehicles, technical expertise and access to the ERL for Stanford researchers actively collaborating on various automotive and technology projects.”

The first one-year research project for e-Golf is scheduled for 2015:

“Beginning in 2015, the e-Golf will be used for a one-year research project focused on advancing the driver experience and understanding of e-mobility to help drivers feel more confident and empowered driving an electric vehicle. With the goal of helping drivers maximize EV benefits and reduce energy usage, researchers from Stanford will work with the ERL to study driver behavior and provide real-time feedback on behaviors that waste energy.”

“Volkswagen’s longstanding relationship with Stanford has allowed us to push the boundaries of automotive research and innovation, and we look forward to extending our work together to drive advances in electric vehicles. We are proud to provide the e-Golf to Stanford to help shape the future of e-mobility and further the educational experience of its engineering students and researchers.”